Typically, if a GP sees 100 patients a day, probably 80% will be for sore throats, colds, skin problems, headaches and the like. In short, little of life's inconveniences not requiring the attention of a man who spent 20 years studying to get where he is.

That's the reason why I see my GP only for a second opinion, the first being mine. For more "expert" attention, Mt. E and Gleneagles are my usual haunts.

The average GPs and the practitionals of Family Medicine in Singapore bring it upon themselves for the low esteem that the general public has of them. Ask any medical equipment or pharmaceutical salesman about the behavior of some of these doctors and you will hear horror stories of their nitty picky ways. They want the cheapest medicine and the most discounts so they can reap in more profits to pay for the Merc or the Beema or that nice condo. They only pay cursory attention to patients' ailments and doesn't exercise their diagnostic skills. Hell, why should they? If the case gets too complicated, just refer them to the polyclinic and the state will take care of the rest. Some of them are even avid gamblers, betting on soccer and the stock market from their clinics. Well, to my knowledge, I am glad some of these "want-to-get-rich-quick" quacks lost money and heavily. But they never say die, they just keep coming back for more slaughtering.

In the old days, at least during my time, GPs even had call back service to reach them in times of emergency. Now, they'll just tell you not to waste their time and go straight to the nearest hospital. Well, for the knowledgeable patient that is not a problem but for those who are not so well verse in medical matters, it becomes dangerous not to be able to tell the hospital doctor at the A & E what medicine he is taking, his full medical history of chronic illnesses or what other medical attention he has been receiving from the GP.

The small clinic in Singapore is going to be an anachronism perhaps not in my lifetime but it will come.

I agree with you comments about GPs in Singapore. I know because I have worked with the worst of them and the best of them.

And yes there are more "worst" than "best" GPs in Singapore.

I have always felt we should leave dispensing to the pharmacist. It's a bit of a chicken or egg situation. At the moment GPs make money from sale of drugs and patients care only about the medicines. Consultation? Nobody is interested neither the GP nor the patient. Does not do anybody any favours with that situation frankly.

Like I have said before, there are fat doctors, alcoholic doctors, and smoking doctors. Don't even talk about the gamblers, womanisers etc!

PS I do have an entry after the tale of the maid! Let me guess you have a maid right? That's why you don't dare to comment. Ha!

The Family Medicine register is an idea from the politicians and administrators to "improve" the care of patients by their Family doctor.

Soon only doctors with Masters of Medicine in Family Medicine or equivalent other qualifications will be allowed to set up new clinics.

A few problems though. For one there are already more than enough clinics open in Singapore and this will not backdate to affect them.

Secondly there is no increased fee allowance for doctors with MMed. That means that even though they spend more time with the patient, have higher qualification, patients still pay the same amount as when they see a normal GP with just an MBBS.

Thirdly, the man on the street and the typical patient has no interest whatsoever in their health or any advice or consultation with the doctor. They just want their medicines. What is likely to happen is what has been happening. They see the doctor, get the advice, and then stop going to see the doctor and just go to the polyclinic and see some MBBS non MMed doctor to repeat their medicines cheap with govt subsidies.

Hence in conclusion, this register is purely political and pointless in my opinion. It will do absolutely nothing to improve the health of Singaporeans. Mark my words.